Science journalist, Photographer, Musician

Philip Ball, writing on the BBC Future site discusses the carcinogens and poisons pumped into the Roman air every time the cardinals vote on a new Pope…

But, he also reckons the The Vatican is missing a trick by being unimaginatively monochrome.

“Why stop at a mere two-colour signalling system? The lurid rainbow smokes used in aerial displays like those of the Red Arrows are simply tinted with bright pigments and dyes such as indigo and rhodamine. Couldn’t we have beige smoke to denote a coffee break, amber to signal an impending decision, and burgundy to show that they’re celebrating it afterwards?”